Study on the extraction process and tyrosinase inhibition property of cichoric acid in Echinacea purpurea L.

Echinacea purpurea has become a commonly used herbal medicine because it contains various biologically active compounds, such as cichoric acid. Extraction conditions of cichoric acid from the flowers of E. purpurea L. were investigated through an orthogonal design of L9 (34) assay. For purication, the extract was adsorbed on an AB-8 macroporous resin and eluted with 50% ethanol, then extracted with ethyl acetate four times, resulting in a residue containing 60.23% cichoric acid. Tyrosinase inhibition property of cichoric acid extracts was tested compared with arbutin by Spectrophotometer method. The extraction was optimized by adding 40% ethanol at a ratio of 1:15 (g/mL) to extract three times at 70C for 1 h. The cichoric acid extracts from E. purpurea was found to have significant tyrosinase inhibition activity in broad range of concentration (≥10 mg/mL).   Key words: Echinacea purpurea L., cichoric acid; extraction, orthogonal design, antimicrobial activity.